Boeing Co has urged the United States to keep human rights and other disputes separate from trade relations with Beijing, and warned European rival, Airbus, would gain if the US planemaker were locked out of China.
Noting multiple disputes, he added: “I am hoping we can sort of separate intellectual property, human rights and other things from trade and continue to encourage a free trade environment between these two economic juggernauts….We cannot afford to be locked out of that market. Our competitor will jump right in.”
Boeing began to face questions over its share of the Chinese market as the United States and China waged an 18-month trade war under then then US President Donald Trump, though China’s jet purchases have slowed across the board in recent years.Meanwhile, President Joe Biden last month warned China would face “repercussions” for human rights abuses and said the United States would reassert its global role in speaking up on such issues.
China has promised a “step-by-step” approach toward approving the plane, but Western industry sources say concerns are growing that the technical process could become mired in the growing diplomatic standoff between Beijing and Washington.